The Joy of Comics Podcast, Episode 17:

Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 and Runaways Graphic Novel Book Club

On this episode of The Joy of Comics Podcast, we (Rich, Jordan and Kevin) discuss the latest in the world of comics and comics-related media, and there's a lot to talk about. First, we dive into Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2, the latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and discuss all aspects of the film - from the plot and structure, to the characters and performances, to the enigmatic new character EGO the Living Planet - and weigh in on the film's overall success as a sequel.

Next, we bring you our second entry in our Graphic Novel Book Club series, this time setiing our sights on the first volume of Runaways by Brian K Vaughn and Adrian Alphona. With the recent announcement of a Hulu original series based on Runaways coming in 2018 and its briefly leaked teaser trailer (which looks amazing by the way), now seemed like the perfect time to revisit the original comic and explore the tremendous impact it has had on comics and popular media since its debut in 2003.

We also discuss some of the other comics we've been reading lately, including a number of DC Rebirth titles, Descender, The Fuse, Black Hammer, Grayson, Harbinger, Spider-Man Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy, X-Men: Legacy and Gold, R.L Stine's Man-Thing, and more. And to round out the proceedings, we touch on some recent comic book news.

So join us, as we leave behind everything we ever knew, grab the Staff of One, Fistigons and a companion dinosaur named Old Lace, and take on the evil that is The Pride. This...is the Joy of Comics!

The Joy of Gaming Podcast, Episode 62:

Yooka-Laylee, Persona 5 and Breath of the Wild 

On this games-centric episode of The Joy of Gaming Podcast, we (Rich and Jordan) discuss the games we've been playing over the past few weeks - among which are some of 2017's most anticipated titles. From Playtonic's retro-inspired 3D platformer Yooka-Laylee, to the stylistically-incredible first few hours of Persona 5, to a much deeper-dive into the incredible world of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, there's something here for fans of all genres, and a whole lot to discuss.

We also dive into some of the latest gaming news, including Splatoon 2's Salmon Run "Horde" mode, a new character announcement for the thus-far-underwhelming A.R.M.S, Sonic Forces and Mania updates, Call of Duty's return to World War II with, well, Call of Duty: WWII, Battlefront 2's single-player story campaign (not a typo), Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, and much, much more.

So join us for a journey across the gaming industry, brought to you with tremendous aplomb by two titans of the industry. Or rather, by two guys at a coffee table who really love talking about games. This...is the Joy of Gaming!

The Joy of Television Podcast, Episode 11:

Superhero TV Special - Iron Fist and Legion

On this episode of The Joy of Television Podcast, we (Rich, Jordan and Kevin) discuss two very different takes on the modern Superhero TV show - The Marvel/Netflix Kung-Fu origin-story Iron Fist, and FX's "superhero-origin-story-meets-prestige-drama" Legion. These shows approach the comic book/superhero genre from wildly different perspectives, and have been met with a wide range of opinions from critics and fans.

We'll be offering our thoughts on all aspects of these drastically different shows - from characters, to plot, to production, to, well, showrunning - and why we feel that one is much more effective than the other. We'll also discuss some recent TV news, including updates on Netflix's The Defenders, Black Lightning, Inhumans, X-Men: Gifted and some surprising TV renewals. And to round out the proceedings, we run down some of the shows we've been watching recently - namely The Killing, Speechless, The Americans, 13 Reasons Why, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Sons of Anarchy, and more.

So join us, as we travel from the snow-covered gates of mystical city of K'un-Lun, to the literal edge of sanity in the mind of a mutant. This...is the Joy of TV!

The Joy of Film Podcast, Episode 14:

Power Rangers Review

On this episode of The Joy of Film Podcast, we (Jordan, Kevin and Kelsey) go galactic to review Power Rangers - Saban's new big-screen adaptation of the long-running franchise. This is a big deal for Power Rangers fans, and the first major film for the franchise in over 20 years. And while online anticipation for the film reached fever-pitch in the lead-up to its release, stalwart fans of the original series also voiced significant concerns over the film's tone, updated costumes, and the depiction of certain classic characters.

On this episode, we go in-depth on all aspects of the film - including its cast of characters, plot, costumes, tone, direction, performances, easter eggs, and more. We also discuss the film in the context of the Power Rangers series as a whole, and offer our thoughts on how well it stayed true to the spirit of the source material. And as per podcast tradition, we also find some time to talk about the latest film news - including an update on the Valiant Cinematic Universe - as well as the other films we've seen recently: Netflix's iBoy, The Belko Experiment, and more.

So join us, as we take an emotionally fraught journey to a dangerous place, where nostalgia meets modern filmmaking and anything can happen. Did we mention that it's Morphin' time? This...is the Joy of Film!

The Joy of Gaming Podcast, Episode 61:

Nintendo Switch and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

On this episode of The Joy of Gaming Podcast, we (Rich and Jordan) discuss Nintendo's highly-anticipated latest console, the Nintendo Switch. The Switch signals a bold new direction for Nintendo, as it incorporates the convenience of a portable gaming system with the power and potential of a home console. The idea is certainly novel, and if this new "hybrid system" can deliver console-quality gaming at home and on the go, it could signal a return to relevance for Nintendo in the home console space after their misfire with the Wii U.

We've had some hands-on time with Nintendo's new console, and offer our thoughts on all aspects - from the overall comfort and usability of the Joy-Cons, to the weight and size of the console, to the games in the launch lineup and beyond (Nindies, what?), and also discuss what it may mean for the future of Nintendo 3DS. And no discussion of the Switch would be complete without talking about The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - the launch title to literally end all launch titles. We'll offer our initial thoughts on this massive game, along with some additional gaming news, a segment about the other games we've been playing recently, and a whole lot more.

So join us, as we journey throughout hyrule in search of adventure (and a ridiculous number of Korok Seeds). This...is The Joy of Gaming!

The Joy of Comics Podcast, Episode 16:

Interview with Dave Dwonch from Action Lab Comics

On this very special episode of The Joy of Comics podcast, we (Rich, Jordan and Kevin) sit down with Dave Dwonch - a comics writer and executive who lives and works on the frontlines of the indpendent comics scene. As a founding member of Action Lab Comics - as well as its President of Marketing and Development - Dave has some fascinating insights to offer about the current state of indpendent publishing, and when we were offered the opportunity to interview him for a panel at this year's NC Comicon - Oak City, we jumped at the chance.

In addition to helping to run Action Lab, Dave is also a comics writer who has become more and more prolific in recent years. Most recently, he scripted a supernatural murder mystery series entitled Cyrus Perkins and the Haunted Taxicab, and he has a new book coming out soon with friend and collaborator Brockton McKinney called Party Monster, which looks to be his most exciting and groundbreaking work yet. We talk about these titles and so much more, and learn what the future holds for himself and for Action Lab.

So join us for an inside look at the trials, tribulations and triumphs of creating indpendent comics, as we interview one of the freshest voices in the industry. This...is the Joy of Comics!

*Special thanks to NC Comicon and Action Lab for making this panel possible. You can also find Kevin's previous interview with Dwonch, click here. 

The Joy of Film Podcast, Episode 12:

Logan Review, The Oscars and Film News

On this episode of The Joy of Film podcast, we (Rich, Jordan and Kevin) take a cross-country trip through a post-apocalyptic wasteland to review one of the most anticipated superhero films of the past few years: Logan. This is director James Mangold's follow-up to 2013's The Wolverine, and it takes its inspiration from the comic series Old Man Logan which depicts the period near the end of Wolverine's life. As such, it affords an excellent opportunity for fans to bid a fond (but very R-rated) farewell to Hugh Jackman's 17-year portrayal of the character across nine X-Men films.

Logan is a startlingly original and grisly take on the Wolverine mythology, and it has received nearly universal acclaim from audiences and critics alike. We'll weigh in on all aspects of the film - from the performances of Patrick Stewart, Stephen Merchant and newcomer Dafne Keen, to the brutal action scenes and the overall success of the plot - and discuss the film's significance to the superhero genre. We also find some time to talk about the Deadpool 2 teaser that preceded the film, a number of other recent trailers, The Oscars, the movies we've watched recently, and a smattering of film news from across the industry.

So join us, as we embark on a perilous journey into the dark heart of the human...er, well..."super-human" condition. Believe us - it's a journey worth taking. This...is the Joy of Film!

The Joy of Comics Podcast, Episode 14:

The Year in Geek, Part 4 - Best Comics of 2016

On this very special episode of the Joy of Comics Podcast, we (Rich, Jordan and Kevin) close out our "Year in Geek" celebration with a look back at the Best Comic Books of 2016. And although the impact of comics on popular culture has been growing steadily each year for the past decade or so, 2016 was quite possibly the biggest yet for comics and comics-related media - from TV to Film and beyond.

Here, however, our focus is squarely on the comic books themselves, and comics publishers had much to offer us in 2016. Between the DC Comics Rebirth re-boot, Marvel's Civil War 2 and the re-launch of Marvel NOW! and the continued dominance of Image Comics as well as other smaller - but also important - players in the creator-owned space, there is A LOT of sequential storytelling for us to discuss and honor.

This year's categories include:
Best Character
Best Issue
Best Publisher
Best Writer
Best Artist
Best Comics of the Year
...and much more!!!

So join us, as we celebrate the very best of the year's comics and graphic novels, and deliver our final sendoff to 2016. This...is the Joy of Comics!

The Joy of Television, Episode 10:

The Year in Geek, Part 3 - Best TV of 2016

It's Part 3 of our annual "Year in Geek" celebration, and on this episode we (Rich, Jordan and Kevin) discuss the best that Television had to offer in 2016. Choosing favorites from this year's crop of top-quality TV shows was as difficult as it's ever been, thanks in part to the continued barrage of new shows from streaming sources like Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, and cable contenders FX, AMC, and The CW (to name only a few). The 2016 television landscape was unprecedented in its quality and variety, and it made crowning a winner nearly impossible.

But here at The Joy of Geek we're always up for a challenge, and while we disagree with each other on many of the winners, our individual favorites span a wide variety of TV styles and genres - from the animated and darkly humorous Bojack Horseman, to the sci-fi epic drama of Westworld, to the edgy comedy of Speechless and Atlanta, and beyond. We discuss the merits of these shows and so many more while handing out the following awards:

Best Scene
Most Surprising Show
Best Performer
Most Disappointing Show
Best Character
Best Episode
Worst Show
Our Top 3 Best Shows of the Year
...and more!

So join us, as we compare, contrast, disparage, denegrate - and ultimately, celebrate - the best and worst Television of 2016. This...is The Joy of TV!

The Joy of Comics Podcast, Episode 15:

Batman, Watchmen and the Art of Modern Comics w/ Gabriel Dunston

On this episode of The Joy of Comics podcast, we (Rich, Jordan and Kevin) welcome local comics creator and friend of the show Gabriel Dunston - and although our original intention was to talk about his new Kickstarter project Stuff and Things, the conversation soon evolved into a wide-reaching discussion about the state of modern comics.

From assessing the quality of The Killing Joke and The Dark Knight Returns and their place in the overall Batman continuity, to debating the continuing relevance of mainstream superhero comics, to sharing what we've been reading and enjoying lately and more - this is a comics-focused conversation that covers a lot of ground.

We then take a few minutes to debate the quality of Zach Snyder's Watchmen film before getting down to business to discuss Gabriel's work. His new art book collection is the latest in a series of thus-far successfully-funded KS projects, and Gabe shares the story of its genesis and his experiences creating the book, as well as his ongoing Purgatory Pub Quadrilogy, his new YouTube series, and much more.

So join us, as we take a deep dive into the world of comics - independent, historic and otherwise. This...is the Joy of Comics!